VLSI Books for Beginners

Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), is a very vast domain and is known to be the best and most sought after field among all branches in electronics.

Our idea is to bring in the basic knowledge on VLSI to our readers and for those who are interested is pursuing this field for a career. As an introduction, we shall take you readers to some of our earlier posts which gives the very basic knowledge of VLSI.

VLSI mainly consists of a front end and a backend. The detailed architecture is explained in VLSI DESIGN FLOW

Most demanding jobs in VLSI goes for layout designing and digital designing. To study digital designing you need some very strong basics on digital circuits like flip-flops, registers, and so on. You must also have good knowledge on hardware description languages – Verilog, VHDL.

VLSI BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS

Please note that the books are listed according to the amount of basic info they provide to beginners, and the precedence of the number of their copies sold. Some copies may have different editions in different countries (some of them may be revised editions).

#1  CMOS VLSI Design : A Circuits and Systems Perspective by Neil H.E. Weste, David Harris, Ayan Banerjee

All beginners in VLSI must have a good knowledge in CMOS TECHNOLOGY. This book fulfills all those needs by giving a detailed explanation on CMOS VLSI design. All the latest trends and techniques in the design of complex, high level CMOS chips are explained with their basics. All the clocking processes, interconnects, and circuits of CMOS are explained in understandable format. The book mainly covers topics like MOS technology, CMOS circuit design techniques, its theory, and circuit characterizations and estimates of performance. The book also covers tutorials on tools and techniques like VHDL, SPICE, and Verilog.

About the Authors:

Neil H.E. Weste completed his PhD in physics from the University of Adelaide Australia, and has worked in different American firms like Bell Laboratories, and so on. He was also the co-founder of Radiata Communications with David Skellern. His books are known for the practical knowledge provided from his academic and industrial experience.

David Harris has a master’s degree in Engineering from MIT, and a PhD from Stanford University. He has acquired several patents from his work with MNC’s like Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and so on. He has also written books called Digital Design and Computer Architecture, and Integrated Circuit Design.

Ayan Banerjee is an Indian author and a professor.

Buy this Book:

CMOS VLSI Design : A Circuits and Systems Perspective – USA

CMOS VLSI Design : A Circuits and Systems Perspective – India

CMOS VLSI Design : A Circuits and Systems Perspective – UK

#2  Basic VLSI Design by Douglas A. Pucknell, Kamran Eshraghian

This book also covers all the basics in VLSI and is known for its latest updates, and revised contents about nMOS, CMOS, BiCMOS and gallium arsenide technologies. The book is known to be straight forward, and covers all the chapters or modules for engineering students.

About the Authors:

Douglas A. Pucknell has co-authored this book with Kamran Eshraghian. Kamran Eshraghian is an electronic engineer and is well known for his works in CMOS VLSI. He completed his Electrical engineering and Master’s and PhD from the University of Adelaide. He has co-written 6 important books in VLSI, along with more than 200 journals in many scientific journals.

Buy this Book:

Basic VLSI Design by Pucknell, Kamran – USA

Basic VLSI Design by Pucknell, Kamran – India

Basic VLSI Design by Pucknell, Kamran – UK

#3  Microelectronic Circuits (With CD) : Theory and Applications 5th Edition by Kenneth C. Smith, Adel S. Sedra

This is the bestselling book in the whole world due to its continuous updated editions according to the recent changes in CMOS technology. The content in this book are known to be “fresh” and so is considered to be the “VLSI Bible” for teaching tomorrow’s engineers on how to analyze and design electronic circuits. The concepts in this book are also explained along with solved problems  and many examples.

The free CD along with the book contains student version of PSpice 9.2 Lite Edition (SPICE simulator) and new industry-based design examples, and some bonus tutorials on GaAs and TTL circuits.

 About The Authors:

Adel S. Sedra is Dean at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

Kenneth C. Smith is Professor Emeritus in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Information Studies at the University of Toronto.

Buy this Book:

Microelectronic Circuits by Smith and Sedra – USA

Microelectronic Circuits by Smith and Sedra – India

 Microelectronic Circuits by Smith and Sedra – UK

#4  Introduction to VLSI Circuits and Systems by John P. Uyemura

This book is known to provide all the contents right from the basics to the modern concepts in the simplest form. All there is to know about high level system considerations, logic design, and silicon circuitry and fabrication is explained in a manner that allows the reader to know the subject in a single composite discipline.

The book mainly focuses on presenting CMOS logic circuits, fabrication, and layout in a cohesive manner that links the material together with the system level consideration.

Buy this Book:

Note: We could not find the same edition or print to buy in America and Europe. But a similar book with almost same contents (greater emphasis on basic integrated circuits) is available.

Introduction to VLSI Circuits and Systems – India

Circuit Design for CMOS VLSI – USA

Circuit Design for CMOS VLSI – UK

#5  VLSI Design by C P Verma

The author C P Verma has managed to write this book with all the resources need for beginners in the field of IC Technology, and MOS fundamentals. He has also provided basics on Programmable Logic Structures, FPGA, and ASICs. Design concepts and design methodology have also been explained along with tools.  In short, this book is specially meant for engineering students.

Buy This Book:

VLSI Design by C P Verma – USA

VLSI Design by C P Verma – India

VLSI Design by C P Verma – UK

#6 – Algorithms for VLSI Physical Design Automation by Naveed A. Sherwani

This book is also meant for students, and may also be helpful for beginners. The book provides contents like VLSI Physical Design Automation, Design and Fabrication of VLSI Devices, Fabrication Process and its Impact on Physical Design, Data Structures and Basic Algorithms, Physical Design Automation of FPGAs and MCMs.

Buy This Book:

Algorithms for VLSI Physical Design Automation – USA

Algorithms for VLSI Physical Design Automation – India

Algorithms for VLSI Physical Design Automation – UK